The President of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, returned to the Labour House on Thursday after honoring a police invitation.
Ajaero, who was accompanied by Human Rights Lawyer Femi Falana, SAN, and others, reported to the Force Headquarters in Abuja earlier in the day.
He arrived at the police Intelligence Response Team (IRT) headquarters in the morning and left around 11:15 a.m. after providing a statement. Although Ajaero did not address journalists at the IRT headquarters, he promised to speak at the NLC headquarters later.
Ajaero’s invitation by the police, reportedly related to an investigation into terrorism financing, has sparked controversy. The NLC and other labor unions have accused the Federal Government of attempting to intimidate labor leaders through this action.
Before Ajaero visited the police, labor members gathered at the NLC headquarters in solidarity with their President. The police authorities stated that Ajaero was to answer questions regarding alleged involvement in terrorism financing, cybercrime, subversion, criminal conspiracy, and treasonable felony.
The police invitation followed a recent night raid on the NLC national secretariat in Abuja. In response, the NLC National Executive Council held an emergency meeting on August 20, where they condemned the actions as politically motivated and an attempt to silence organized labor. They also criticized the short notice given for Ajaero’s police appearance, requesting a postponement.